Dundee United boss Tam Courts called Aberdeen counter-part Stephen Glass to make it clear that there is no place in football for what happened to Funso Ojo at the weekend.
Police Scotland has charged a Tannadice fan with assaulting the Dons midfielder during Saturday’s game at Tannadice.
Insult was then added to injury for Aberdeen when Ojo returned to the pitch and was shown a second yellow card and sent off by referee Bobby Madden.
Dundee United have already cancelled the supporter’s season ticket and Courts felt it was only right he called his Glass to show a genuine show of support and solidarity.
Courts said: “I called Stephen on Sunday. I decided to pick up the phone because it was an incident-packed game and I just wanted to speak to him colleague to colleague.
“The incident that happened with Ojo, I just wanted to make it clear that I don’t think there is a place for fans touching players on any level.
“Players are there for our enjoyment and I just think we have to be quite clear, as footballing staff, this is not something we are comfortable with.
“I felt it was important that I made Stephen clear about that. We’d a good conversation. I have a good relationship with Stephen and it is good to see that is still in a good, strong position.”
Glass was sent off at half-time in the game after Madden took exception to comments he made. United’s captain Calum Butcher was also sent packing – before Ojo – for a clash with Christian Ramirez, after the Dons striker had tangled with team-mate Ryan Edwards.
Butcher will now be suspended for the weekend trip to Ross County. Courts admitted: “Cal and I have had a conversation, a really frank discussion.
“Butch has given a team-mate a bit of protection on the pitch. I am disappointed on a number of different fronts but it is a decision we have to accept and move on from.”
The good news for United is that Jeando Fuch’s leg injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as was first feared.
Courts confirmed: “Jeando reported a problem at the top of his leg. The first assessment was that he has a good range of motion.
“It seems to have settled down but we need to keep checking him over. We will see how his power is but hopefully it will be OK.
“You are always slightly nervous because it is muscular but we need to wait and see how he is over the coming days.
“The good thing is that Jeando is quick healer. He hasn’t been ruled in or out of the weekend and it is just a case of waiting to see.”
United are also hopeful fellow midfielder Adrian Sporle could also come back in this weekend. The Argentine has been out with a knee injury since the start of October.
